Birds at the Beach (Interactive poster)

A colourful A3 interactive poster featuring typical birds found at New Zealand beaches, including: kingfisher, black-backed gull, Australasian gannet, Canada goose, red-billed gull, pied shag, white-fronted tern, pied stilt, white-faced heron, banded dotterel and variable oystercatcher. Cut out the pictures of the birds and place in the correct locations on the poster. Great for recognition of the different bird species, their special features and typical locations where they are found. This activity helps to develop early ideas relating to observations, habitats, ecosystems, ecological niche and animal diversity.

Depending on the manual dexterity of the children, have them (or an adult) cut out the puzzle pieces. Having the children perform this task is preferable, since they are forced to look carefully (= observations) at the animals. Store them in a zip-top bag or similar. Place bird pieces on puzzle in a loose fashion, or use blu tack or velcro for short term mounting, or glue in place permanently.

Simple shape recognition — 'Which one will fit in which space?' Place correctly.

Children realistically colour in their black and white pictures using the coloured poster as a guide.

Questions: 1) Have you seen this before? Where? 2) Are the feet webbed? 3) What is the shape of its beak? 4) How long is its tail? 5) What colour is it? 6) Does it run, hop or waddle? 7) Where else might you see this bird, e.g. at the gardens, at an estuary, grazing in fields, at riverbeds or at the dump? 8) What is its call (or song) like?

Naming games. Which bird is which? Use Māori and English terms.

Visit a reserve or botanical garden to spot birds.

Feed birds with bread at a botanical garden or local wharf.

Primary Years 3–8

All the above ideas, but pitched at a higher level.

Use the interactive poster as an ignition activity for a unit on birds or animals or living communities or flight.

Scientific naming. Research their scientific names.

Pick your favourite bird and study it in depth. Study in the field. Drawings, observations, view using binoculars. Photograph, video. Listen to recorded or actual calls.

Behaviour investigations: feeding locations, what they eat and how they get their food. How does the beak and length of neck assist in feeding? If they feed on the water, do they dabble, stretch down into the water, dive from a height, swim underwater, skim the surface, etc?